Moonfare
Moonfare
Insights
How can private equity make the most of a downturn? Top takeaways from our webinar with Moonfare CEO Steffen Pauls
Moonfare CEO Steffen Pauls talks about various ways that private equity can overcome and in some cases take advantage of a broad-based economic downturn.
How can private equity make the most of a downturn? Top takeaways from our webinar with Moonfare CEO Steffen Pauls
Written by Sean Lightbown, Jason Feder
July 1, 2022

Fears of a pending recession have gripped investors this year. A combination of rising interest rates, inflation and stumbling economic activity have fed concerns that a downturn could be imminent, with the steep fall in public equity markets a stark demonstration of sentiment. And while private equity as an asset class has shown some resilience to economic shocks in the past, worries persist about the correction in multiples and potential valuation haircuts. But what are the opportunities in this environment?

Earlier this week, our CEO Steffen Pauls hosted a webinar to discuss the various ways that PE can overcome and in some cases take advantage of a broad-based economic downturn. He also looked back on his private equity career through the lens of previous recessions, and took time to answer questions from our audience.

Key points covered included:

  • Given their role as active owners, private equity managers can work with portfolio companies at a frequent cadence to aid them through tough economic times, both through good governance and capital provision.
  • The PE industry ‘reinvented itself’ during and after the great financial crisis, broadening their capital basis and putting an emphasis on value creation for portfolio companies.
  • The restructuring of several industries globally given the sharp change in macroeconomic conditions could provide a compelling opportunity for managers with a clear understanding of how value chains will operate going forward, particularly at lower buying multiples.

For more from Steffen, please check out our video below:

Nota importante: Questo contenuto è fornito a scopo informativo. Moonfare non fornisce consulenza sugli investimenti. Non dovresti interpretare alcuna informazione o altro materiale fornito come consulenza legale, fiscale, di investimento, finanziaria o altro. Se hai dei dubbi, dovresti cercare consulenza finanziaria da un consulente autorizzato. Le prestazioni passate non sono una guida affidabile per i rendimenti futuri. Non investire a meno che tu non sia disposto a perdere tutto il denaro che investi. Si tratta di un investimento ad alto rischio e è improbabile che tu sia protetto se qualcosa va storto. Soggetto a idoneità. Si prega di consultare https://www.moonfare.com/disclaimers.
Authors
Sean Lightbown
Content Manager
Sean Lightbown
Sean is a content manager at Moonfare, working with stakeholders across the business and wider industry to help produce thought-provoking content across blog posts and white papers. He has over a decade of experience in financial writing and editing, specialising in fixed income, venture capital, private equity and M&A. Sean holds a BSc in Politics with Economics from the University of Bath.
Jason Feder
Senior Legal Counsel
Jason Feder
Jason is a member of Moonfare’s legal team, with experience in financial regulation and white collar litigation. He holds a B.A. from UCLA and a J.D. from Indiana University.
Related Content
Private equity powers back in 2025 as activity nears record highs
Private equity powers back in 2025 as activity nears record highs
A rebound in deal and exit values are signs of a healthier market, but the recovery remains uneven, making manager selection increasingly important as the cycle progresses.
January 30, 2026
Five real-world examples of private equity creating value by improving companies
How do private equity firms create value?
After more than a decade in which suppressed interest rates and rising multiples did much of the heavy lifting, private equity finds itself in a very different environment. Deal activity is recovering, but it is doing so within a reset rather than a return to the old way of doing things.
January 29, 2026
How to position portfolios for geopolitical risk
How to position portfolios for geopolitical risk
Downside protection may include hedging dollar exposure and trimming expensive US equities.
January 26, 2026
Join Moonfare Now.
Benefit from what institutional investors already know: the greatest shareholder value comes from private markets, and funds like those offered on Moonfare have generated an average IRR of 19% — outperforming the S&P 500 by 13%.*
partnerships-image
Join The Satellite.
Weekly updates on Investment and Finance.
Subscribe Now
arrow icon
arrow icon